Mahjong scoring depends on the style. In American mahjong, each hand has a value printed on the League’s card. In Hong Kong mahjong, you add up faan for your hand’s features, then convert them to points. In Riichi mahjong, you combine han and fu, then look up the points in a table. You can enjoy your first games without knowing all of this, since most groups help new players count.
Scoring at a glance
| Style | What you count | Minimum to win | Where the numbers come from |
|---|---|---|---|
| American | The hand’s listed value | Any hand on the card | The League’s card |
| Hong Kong | Faan | Often 3 | A table your group agrees on |
| Riichi | Han and fu | One yaku | A published rule set |
American scoring
Your hand’s value is printed beside it on the card. A hand won by drawing the tile yourself or a hand with no jokers may be worth more, depending on the rules your group follows. Because the card belongs to the League, we do not list or discuss the values of its hands. Keep the card beside you, and it will tell you.
Hong Kong scoring
You add up faan, one reason at a time.
- Pung of Green Dragons: 1 faan.
- Pung of your seat wind: 1 faan.
- Drawing the winning tile: 1 faan.
The total is 3 faan, which is enough at most tables. The full lesson has the table and more examples.
Riichi scoring
Riichi scoring has two parts.
- Han comes mainly from yaku and dora.
- Fu are small points for details such as your sets and how you won.
- Riichi: 1 han.
- Fully concealed self-draw: 1 han.
- Total: 2 han, plus any dora.
From han and fu to points
The base value is fu × 2(han + 2). A non-dealer win on a discard is then paid at 4 times the base, and a dealer win at 6 times, rounded up to the next hundred.
For example, take 2 han and 30 fu, won by a non-dealer on a discard:
- Base: 30 × 24 = 480.
- Payment: 480 × 4 = 1,920.
- Rounded up: 2,000 points.
From 5 han, the amount stops growing by that formula and uses fixed limit values. A non-dealer win at 5 han, called mangan, is worth 8,000 points, and a dealer win is worth 12,000.
Most players use a printed chart at first. Our cheat sheets include one for han and fu.
How to get better at scoring
- Start by naming your hand’s features out loud.
- Count one reason at a time.
- Learn by doing, with the Scoring Quiz.
- Do not worry about fu until han feels easy.
Common beginner mistakes
- Using one style’s values at another table. Faan and han are not the same.
- Forgetting the minimum. A Hong Kong hand may fall short, and a Riichi hand needs a yaku.
- Trying to learn it all first. Your group can count for you while you learn the rest.